High-tension device.



T. J. MURPHY.

HIGH TENSION DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED MAY 17, 1910.

PatentedMay 26, 1914.

produce an abrupt break in a circuit carryan inductorium in an flow through UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS JOSEPH MURIEHY, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-FOURTH TO JJAMES P. B. DUFFY,'OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

HIGH-TENSION DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, THoMAs J OSEPH Mop.- PHY, a subject of the King of Great Britain, and whose residence is Rochester, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in 'High-Tensmn Devices, of which the following is a speclfication. I

My invention relates to high tension apparatus andit has for its ob ect to provide a means whereby a highly attenuated discharge may be produced for aiiecting antennae of a-wireless telegraph or an vapparatus of similar design.

The invention also has for its ob]ect to ing, a largecurrent which maybe greatly multiplied in its efiect inv a secondary circuit.

The invention consists in providing electrodes adapted to carry a large direct current and means for establishing an arc across the said electrodes and causing it to suddenly rupture.

The invention also consists in providing electrodes across which an arc may be produced and which is gradually lengthened until it is suddenly broken down.

The invention also consists in assisting the breaking down of the are by causing it to move into a field of force.

It further consists in a means for causing it to break down at substantially equal intervalsof time after starting. The invention also consists in connecting electric circuit having a source of supply producing a ,large cur; rent and allowing impulses of the current to the said inductorium, the impulses being of sufficient length of time to permit it to rise to a desired amount against an be established whereby the current is regulated.

The invention also consists'in other feathe accompanying drawin the following descriptures illustrated in ings and set forth tion.

Referring to. the drawings, Figure 1 is 'a diagram showing the devices and connec- 1, 2 indicated in Fig. 1 are terminals of an electric circuit. The system shown is counter-electromotive forces that may between the electrodes 3 and connected to an external direct current circuit usually otllO volts.

3' and 4: are proximity to each other, though not in contact. They are made of carbon or other suitable material such as pure graphite or composition containing carbon. The disks are rotated by any suitable mechanism in opposite directions, that is to say,- opposing sides of the disk move in the same direction, namely, downward. The disks are connected through their bearings or through rings 5 and 6 to the terminals 1 and 2.

A condenser 7 and ball terminals 8 are connected in shunt with the disks 3 and 4. The condenser 7 is connected with the disk 3 and the ball terminals are connected to the disk 4, the condenser and the terminals being connected in series. The condenser 7 is charged by an inductioncoil 9. The in-.

duction coil 1s provided with a vibrator 10 and contact 11 and operates the same as the ordinary Rhumkorfi coil. The second ary 12 is connected to opposite sidesof the condenser 7 and the intermittent current produced in the secondary coil 12 charges 'the condenser 7 with a very high potential.

It is discharged across the air gap of the terminals8 and springs across 3 and l. The vibrator 9 and contact 11 of the induction coil are connected to the terminal 2. The circuit breakers 10 and 11 are also connected to the primary 13. The circuit is, completed through the Morse key 1 1 to the terminal 1. The circuit is closed by operating the key 14: inthe manner well known in the art. The quantity of the current passing through the primary 13 may be if desired regulated by the resistance 15.

The oscillatory discharges produced across .the electrodes 3 and 4; by the sudden interruption of-the current reduces the resistance 4 for the inoment and enables the direct current produced by the difference of potential at the terminals 1 and 2' to form an arc. The are when formed, continues to exist between the electrodes and permits a continuous flow of the 'current across the electrodes until the arc is ruptured. The opposing surfaces of the electrodesmoving in the same direction and at the same time away from each other,

Patented May 26, 1914. Application t ed May 17, 1910. Serial No. 561,856. Y

the electrodes disks which are located in move the arc downward and gradually stretch it. When the arcs are formed they produce an incandescent condition in the tu'rfaees of the electrodes at the points where they are formed and they continue to exist approximately. at the points of their formation because of the low conductivity produced at that point. A large current is thus allowed to How in the circuit ofthe electrodes. When the arc is ruptured the circuit carrying the large current is broken in an incredibly short interval of time, and the reaction is correspondingly large.

The electrodes 3 and 4 areconneeted in series with a coil 16 which forms .the primary of the transformer or induction coil 17. The secondary of the transformer having a large number of turns of wire is connected to the terminals 19 and causes the production of an enormous diiference of potential between the terminals 19.- The highly attenuated discharge which takes place between the terminals 19 produces the waves of transmissionin the manner well known in the art of wireless telegraphy.

The key 14 may be operated as desired and while its contact is closed the condenser 7 is charged and discharged intermittently which in turn produces oscillatory discharges across the electrodes reducing the resistance to practically nothing between the said electrodes which in turn causes the flashing between the terminals 19 so that when the key is operated the terminals 19 receive a highly attenuated flash. "This is accomplished without destruction of instru-' ments which are otherwise delicate and there is no volatilization of the metallic parts of the instruments andjthe carbon electrodes are scarcely worn'in their use.

The arcs when formed between the elec-' trodes extend at first directly across the narrow portions of the gap and they are then carried down into the field ofthe elec-' tromagnet 21. The intervals between the formation of the arcs-and the time-they are ruptured areexceedingly long compared to the length of time it requires each spark produced in the discharge of the condenser to pass across the gap between the electrodes. This .will give time for a complete up-building of the current against'any momentary counterelectromotive forces that may be set up in the circuit according to the rate at which the disks are rotated; If the rate is increased sufhciently the opportunity for the current to build up is reduced. The movement of the disks being substantially con-. stant the intervals of arcing also approximate a constant. The magnet 21 has inwardly directed pole pieces 22 and 23. The field formed between the poles of the magnet is located just below and between the electrodes 3 and Leo that as the electrodes move the arcs are carried into the field formed between the magnetic poles. The coil of the magnetmay be connected in the circuit of a source of direct current or may be, asshown, connected across the ter- Ininals l and 2 of' the source of main current.

A choke coil Qtmaybe provided for regulating or smoothing out the current. Choke coils 25 may b'elocated in the secondary circuit for substantially the same purpose. i resistance coil 15 may be used to regulate the quantityof current and potential ofthe circuit of the condenser which starts the arc across the electrodes.

The structure here described and illustrated in the drawings is selected for the pur'poseof showing a practical application of the inventiom The structure 'may be greatly varied by those skilled in the art and yet embody the invention. The invention may be used to accomplish a great many results and the devices which contain it may be adapted to the various purposes to which the invention. is applicable.

What I claimas new'and desire to secure by Letters Patent is as follows- 1. In an electric-system thecombination ofa pair of rotatable electrodes, a source of current connected to the said electrodes and adapted to form an arc'between the said electrodes, a magnet located in the vicinity ofthe said electrodes, means for rotating the said electrodes in opposite di- 'rections to carry the ares formed between them into the field of force of the magnet.

2. In a wireless telegraph system the combination of an inductorlum, a magnet, a pair of rotatable electrodes, a source of current connected to the primary of the said inductoriumand to the said electrodes and adapted to form arcs across the said elec trodes between the nearest points on the electrodes, means for rotating the said electrodes in opposite directions to stretch the are and carry it outward and into thefield of force of the said magnet 3. In an electric system the combination of a pair of rotatable electrodes, a sourceof direct current connected tothe said electrodes, and adapted to form an are between the said electrodes, a magnet located in front of and between the said electrodes,

the said magnet havinginwardly directed poles, means for rotating the said electrodes in opposite directions to carry the arcs formed betweenthem intothe field of force produced by the magnet.

4. In a wireless system the combination [of a pair of rotatable electrodes, a source of direct current, an inductorium, the rimary of the sald lnductorium connecte to the said electrodes. and tothe said source of current, means for starting an are between the electrodes, a magnet having inwardly extending poles located infront of and between the said electrodes, means for rotating the said electrodes in opposite directions to carry the arcs formed between them' into the field ofiforce of the magnet.

5. In a wireless system the combination of an lnductorium, rotatable electrodes,

--means for rotating the electrodes in oppocated in the circuit of the said source, the

rimary of the said inductorium connect-ed 1n series with the said source, Wireless antennae connected'to the secondary of the said inductorium, means for rotating the said electrodes in opposite directions, a condenser connected to the said electrodes, means for charging the condenser intermittently and means for regulating the discharge of the condenser across the said electrodes thereby starting arcs between the electrodes which is maintained by the said source, a magnet, the said electrodes adapted tocarry the said arcs into the field of force of the said magnet.

7 In a wireless telegraph system the combination of a source of current, an inductorium and a pair of rotatable electrodes located in the circuit of the said-source, the primary of the said inductorium connected in series with the said rotatable electrodes, the said source adapted to form arcs across the said electrodes, a magnet located in the vicinity of the-said electrodes, meansfor rotating the said electrodes in opposite directions to carry the saidarc toward the denser field of the said ma et. i

In testimony whereof, I ave signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS JOSEPH MURPHY.

Witnesses: R. W. T. LARIN, GOULD L. GAYLOV. 

